Strap assembly for supporting a tray and the like

ABSTRACT

An assembly for supporting a laptop computer or other tray-like product is provided. The inventive support assembly includes a series of supporting straps which depend from a harness unit. The harness unit includes a series of straps and is fitted securely and snugly to the user. The supporting straps which depend from the harness unit are selectively adjustable and include coupling members at the end of the straps for both engaging and supporting the base of the laptop computer.

[0001] This application claims priority to provisional application Nos.60/461,798, filed Apr. 10, 2003 and 60/472,069, filed May 19, 2003; bothapplications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Personal computers are becoming more and more a part of everydaylife. Many individuals, whether those in the business world or students,require the need to utilize a computer while on the go. Most of theseindividuals use what is known as a laptop computer, which essentially isa portable computer comprising a base portion which houses the guts ofthe computer and which includes an overlying keyboard, as well as apivotally attached screen portion which is used to view the computerduring operation. Because of the size and weight of most laptopcomputers, they normally must be used while an individual is sittingdown, with the base either resting on a table or other supportstructure, or directly on the lap or legs of the individual. While notimpossible, it is extremely difficult to utilize a laptop computer whilestanding, unless, of course, a flat support surface can be located.However, for many individuals who travel to or from work or school, theyoften must be standing, either on a train or subway, or even on the bus.In a standing position, it is extremely difficult, as one canappreciate, to properly use a laptop computer.

[0003] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an assembly forsupporting a laptop computer or other tray-like product for a user whois in a standing position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an assemblyfor supporting a laptop computer or other tray-like product is provided.The inventive support assembly includes a series of supporting strapswhich depend from a harness type unit worn by an individual. The harnessunit also includes a series of straps and is fitted securely and snuglyto the user. The supporting straps which depend from the harness unitare selectively adjustable and include coupling members at the end ofthe straps for both engaging and supporting the base of the laptopcomputer. Preferably, each coupling member includes a plurality of hooksand/or loops extending from the ends of the strap surfaces and suitablefor engaging corresponding hook/loop members disposed along theunderside of the laptop base.

[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a strapassembly for supporting a laptop computer or similar type of tray-likeproduct.

[0006] Still another object of the invention is to provide a strapassembly for supporting a laptop computer which is selectively engagedto a harness unit. Another object of the invention is to provide a strapassembly for supporting a laptop computer that utilizes hook and loopcoupling members.

[0007] Still, other objects and advantages of the invention will, inpart, be obvious and will, in part, be apparent from the followingdescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made tothe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the strap assembly of theinvention being used to support a laptop computer;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG.1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the strap assembly shown in FIG. 1being used for supporting an artist's palette; and

[0012]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1, a strap assembly used for supporting aconventional laptop computer 33 and generally indicated at 11 is shown.Strap assembly 11 is typically made from a fabric material and includesa harness or support unit 12 unit comprising a pair of length adjustableshoulder straps 13, an adjustable a waist strap 15, a verticallydirected front strap 17 and a cross strap 19. Harness unit 12 may beadjusted in height to accommodate various sized and shaped individualsby means of hook and loop type fasteners as, for example, shown withrespect to front strap 17.

[0014] A strap support or connecting assembly 21 is selectively coupledto shoulder straps 13 of harness unit 12 by means of anchors 23, asshown in FIG. 1. In particular, support assembly 21 includes strapsupport members 25 which wrap around and otherwise engage anchors 23,and are adjustable in position by conventional hook and loop typefasteners in order to selectively adjust the height of supportingassembly 21. Depending from the bottom ends at each of strap members 25are a pair of forward supporting straps or other top of connectingelements 27A and a pair of rearward supporting straps or other type ofconnecting elements 27B. Each of straps 27A and 27B have free ends 29Aand 29B respectively, as best shown in FIG. 2, formed with a pluralityof hook-type fasteners 30A, 30B.

[0015] Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, laptop computer 33 includes abase 35 having an overlying keyboard 37 as well as a pivotally connectedscreen member 39, as is well known. Base 35 includes a bottom 36 havingtwo pairs of loop-type fasteners 31A and 31B located adjacent thecorners of base 35. As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to supportlaptop computer 33, hook-type fasteners 30A, 30B of free ends 29A, 29Bselectively engage loop-type fasteners members 31A, 31B disposed alongbottom 30 of laptop base 35.

[0016] Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, strap assembly 11 is shown beingused to support an artist's palette 43. In particular, supporting straps27A and 27B of support assembly 21 have hook-type fasteners 30A, 30Balong ends 29A and 29B of straps 27A,27B that are engaged to acorresponding number of loop-type fasteners 41A,41B disposed along thebottom of palette 43. As can be seen, palette 43 is formed with anopening 45 for retaining and otherwise storing one or more brushes 47.

[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, a second embodiment of a strapassembly used for supporting a tray 133 and generally indicated at 111is shown. Strap assembly 111 includes a harness or support unit 112comprising a pair of shoulder straps 113 and a waist strap or belt 115.Strap assembly 111 also includes a strap support assembly generallyindicated at 121 selectively coupled to shoulder straps 113.Particularly, support assembly 121 includes a pair of forward supportingstraps or other type of connecting elements 127A and a pair of rearsupporting straps or other type of connecting elements 127B, bothdepending from and coupled to the bottom ends of shoulder straps 113, asshown best in FIG. 6. Forward supporting straps 127A are releasablycoupled to shoulder straps 113 by means of hook 161 fixed to one end ofeach of supporting straps 127A and buckle 163 fixed along each ofshoulder straps 113.

[0018] Each of supporting straps 127A and 127B have support ends 129with extending hooks 130. Hooks 130 are used for supporting tray 133 asdescribed below.

[0019] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, as well as FIG. 7, tray 133includes a base 135 having a top surface 137 suitable for receiving andsupporting a piece of paper 145 and the like. Tray 133 also includes apivotally connected support shelf 129 having a pair of verticallyoriented flexible bands 141 which can be used to secure a book or othertype of reading material in an open position along the top surface ofshelf 129.

[0020] In order to support tray 133, base 135 includes a bottom 136having two pairs of fasteners 131 located adjacent the corners of base135. As shown, the forward pair of fasteners 131A includes a bucklemember 132 to which hooks 130 of supporting straps 127A and 127B may beselectively engaged, as shown in FIG. 5, to enable tray 133 to besupported by means of assembly 111. Also, fasteners 131 B also include abuckle member for selective engagement to a hook 139 depending fromwaist strap or belt 115 of harness unit 112. Thus, tray 133 is, in part,supported along the waist of the wearer.

[0021] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and thosemade apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained,and since certain changes may be made in the products set forth abovewithout departing from the spirit and scope from the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

[0022] It is also to be understood that the following claims areintended to cover all the generic and specific features of the inventionherein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention,which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

1. A system for supporting a tray and the like comprising: a wearablesupporting unit; a connecting assembly selectively attached to saidsupporting unit and including a plurality of connecting elementsdepending therefrom; wherein each of said connecting elements isdesigned for selectively coupling to a location along said tray.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said supporting unit comprises a harness. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein said connecting elements comprise aplurality of supporting straps.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein eachof said supporting straps includes a forward end having a trayattachment member.
 5. The system of claim 2, wherein said harnessincludes a pair of shoulder straps and a waist strap connected thereto.6. The system of claim 5, wherein said shoulder straps are adjustable inlength.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein said harness is adjustable inheight.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said harness is adjustable inheight by means of a length adjustable strap connected between saidshoulder straps and said waist strap.
 9. The system of claim 3, whereineach of said supporting straps is length adjustable.
 10. The system ofclaim 5, wherein said connecting elements comprise supporting straps.11. The system of claim 10, wherein each said supporting strap of saidstrap assembly is selectively attached to one of said shoulder straps ofsaid harness.
 12. The system of claim 4, further including a pluralityof engagement members fixable along said tray and to at least some ofwhich said attachment members at the ends of said plurality ofsupporting straps are selectively connectable thereto.
 13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein each said attachment member of said supporting strapscomprises one of a plurality of hook members and a plurality of loopmembers, and wherein each said engagement members disposed along saidtray comprise the other of a plurality of hook members and a pluralityof loop members.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein said engagementmembers are designed to be fixedly disposed along the underside of saidtray.
 15. The system of claim 5, wherein at least one of said connectingelements depends from said waist strap.
 16. The system of claim 1,wherein said supporting unit includes a waist belt from which at leastone of said connecting elements depends therefrom.
 17. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said support unit includes at least one shoulder strapfrom which at least one of said connecting elements depends therefrom.18. A carrying system comprising: a product to be carried; a supportunit wearable by an individual; a connecting assembly selectivelyattached to said support unit and including a plurality of connectingelements depending therefrom; wherein each of said connecting elementsis designed for selective coupling to a location along said product. 19.The system of claim 18, wherein said support unit includes a pair ofshoulder straps and a waist strap.
 20. The system of claim 19, whereinsaid support unit is adjustable in height by means of a lengthadjustable strap connected between said shoulder straps and said waiststrap.
 21. The system of claim 18, wherein each of said connectingelements is length adjustable.
 22. The system of claim 19, wherein eachof said connecting elements is selectively attached to at least one ofsaid shoulder straps and said waist strap of said support unit.
 23. Thesystem of claim 18, further including a plurality of engagement membersdisposed along said product to which at least some of said plurality ofconnecting elements are selectively attachable thereto.
 24. The systemof claim 23, wherein each said connecting element comprises one of aplurality of hook members and a plurality of loop members, and whereineach said engagement member disposed along said product comprises theother of a plurality of hook members and a plurality of loop members.25. The system of claim 23, wherein said product has an underside alongwhich said engagement members are fixedly disposed.
 26. The system ofclaim 25, wherein said product has a plurality of corners adjacent towhich said engagement members are located along said product underside.27. The system of claim 18, wherein said product is selected from thegroup consisting of a laptop computer, an artist's palette and a tray.